How To Train Your Earl

I loved reading Brina and Zane’s amazing story in How to Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey, book three in her First Comes Love series. This amazing story brings together two people who were totally unprepared to find love, let alone a future together while helping each other as they maneuver through a life neither ever expected to live. After losing her husband in the sinking of the Salty Dove, widow Brin Feld devoted her life to helping others. She is content with the life she has created and has no need for a man in her life. Not even the intriguing, handsome, Englishman she encounters tied up during a masquerade ball in France. Zane Blacknight has always been the black sheep of the family, not caring to lead a respectable life; fistfights, card games, and drinking were the daily norm for him. He was never supposed to inherit of earldom and now he was determined to change his ways. Zane, now the Earl of Blacknight knew the perfect, proper lady who could help him. Acting normal for him, he made a bet he would win her hand before the Season is over. Brin is concerned her peace and calm life will disappear now that Lord Blacknight has decided to court her. Zane has awakened her desires and she knows that if she agrees to help him learn how to become an Earl, Brin is in danger of losing her heart to him. To counter this occurrence, Brin has resolved to out-scheme him, betting him that she will agree to wed him at the last ball of the season if Zane gives up drink, card playing, swearing, and fighting until then. Zane is determined to win this bet and show her that his love for her is true; despite obstacles put in his path, to keep him from winning the beautiful Brin. Ms. Grey wrote a charming, clever, entertaining and amusing story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with humorous escapades, amusing banter, sizzling chemistry and endearing characters giving Brin and Zane a chance to obtain all each desires. I highly recommend The Earl Next Door to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Brina Feld is the last of our widows from the sinking of the Salty Dove to get her happy ending. Brina has been content still mourning her husband Stewart for the past five years. She has no plans to ever get married again and everyone knows it. One night while in Paris with her aunt, Brina comes upon a man, tied to chair at a party. Not just any man, but Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, and a known rake. Known for his gambling, drinking and women, Zane never expected to be the Earl, but now he's faced with having to change his ways and knows just the proper lady for that task.....Mrs. Brina Feld. He even ends up placing a bet to the fact that she will agree to marry him at the last ball of the season. Brina then counters that he has to give up gambling, drinking and women during that time and if he does she will marry him. The more time Brina and Zane spend together, the hotter their chemistry gets. They are both having to deal with a life that they never expected or wanted and together they are learning that they may be the answer to each others prayers. Just when it looks like Zane is going to win the bet, a surprising circumstance happens and blows everything up. A surprising person will help put everything back into prospective and then Brina and Zane will finally get their perfect happy ending! I just adored Brina and Zane. They both are really trying to live a life they never really wanted but they also are trying to do the right things. Together they brought out the best in each other and deserved to have their happy ever after. I'm sad to see this series end. I have thoroughly loved all three books in this series.

This book is hilarious. Zane has only met Brina once for five minutes, but he's intent on marrying her. First, the attraction between them is powerful. Second, her saintly reputation will convince his family that he intends to put aside his rakish ways and take his new role as earl seriously. Instead of courting her like a normal person and asking for her hand in due course, he places a wager in the betting book at White's. Only afterward does it occur to him to declare his intentions to the lady. Brina has no desire to give up her chaste widowhood to become a wife again. True, she wants to smash her face—indeed, her whole body—into Zane's. But the loss of her husband five years earlier was too devastating to risk repeating. To put Zane in his place, she says she'll marry him only if he gives up gambling, drinking, swearing, and womanizing through the end of the season. Reluctantly, Zane agrees. Because marrying Brina is the one wager he's determined to win, no matter what the cost. This novel comes alive from the very first page. It's brilliantly written, light-hearted and fun, yet deeply emotional. The plot never drags and the characters are delightful. This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. My only disappointment with this book was the hero's favorable view of British expansion into Singapore. (At the time, Singapore was a Dutch colony, and the British sought control of the trade route between India and China.) It's one sentence out of the entire book, but it's culturally insensitive. I'm surprised the editor didn't catch it. Overall, I loved this book. I look forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.